Стюарт Вудс - Barely Legal

“She’s going for the taxi line. You’re up.”

Gus started the engine.

There was one man ahead of Melanie waiting for a cab, and a woman was paying off a taxi by the curb. After he got that one, she’d be next.

Gus was revving the engine.

“You wanna tone it down? It’s not a drag race.”

Gus eased off the gas.

While they were watching, a sleek sedan squeezed past the taxi and slid to a stop in front of the hospital. The driver hopped out, came around, and ushered Melanie into the backseat.

“What the hell?” Chico murmured.

“Who is that?” Gus said.

“I don’t know, but follow that car.”

The Bentley took a surprisingly short trip, ending at a town house in Turtle Bay. Gus found it odd.

“Why pick her up in a private car to bring her a distance she could have walked?”

They watched as the Bentley pulled into an underground garage.

Chico pulled out his cell phone and called Mookie. “We couldn’t get her.”

“Why not?”

“A driver in a Bentley picked her up at the door and took her to a house in Turtle Bay.”

“What’s the address?”

Chico gave it. Mookie hung up the phone and cursed his luck. When things went bad, they went really bad. He had to hold it together. He couldn’t afford to lose it, not on a job for a guy like Tommy Taperelli.

Mookie went to the computer and traced the ownership of the property. The town house was owned by a Mr. Stone Barrington. Wasn’t that the lawyer who’d just showed up in court?

Mookie Googled him. Stone Barrington was indeed a lawyer. And not just any lawyer. Stone appeared to be one of the wealthiest, most well-connected men in America. He was reputed to cruise around in custom-made cars of his own specifications. If that was his car and driver, the girl would be impossible to abduct while she was under his protection. They’d have to wait until she went home and roust her out of her apartment.

Mookie bit the bullet and called Taperelli.

Melanie hugged Herbie in her arms. “You poor thing.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“As if you had to tell me that. What a horrible thing. I’m so sorry about your fiancée.”

“Why? You don’t know me.”

“True. I didn’t even know you had a fiancée.”

“It didn’t come up.”

“You must have loved her very much. I’m really sorry.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to talk about it? Do you want me to leave you alone? I just want to help, and I don’t know how.”

“Nothing helps.”

“Of course not.”

“I’m so confused. I came home. We were having drinks. The next thing I know I wake up in jail and am told I’m being charged with her murder.”

“You blacked out?”

“I must have, but I don’t know how. I only had one drink.”

“Could you have been drugged?”

“That’s what it was like. But it couldn’t be.”

“Are you sure?”

“The only one who could have drugged me was her.”

Melanie thought that over. “Does this have anything to do with the case?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Your friend Stone sent his car just ten blocks to pick me up. I could easily have walked here. It got me wondering.”

“He’s overprotective. He means well. Why are you here?”

“I thought you might need a friend.”

“I do,” Herbie said. A tear welled in his eye.

Melanie held him again while he got control of himself. Then he pulled away and sat back.

“Now they think it was all a big mistake, that Yvette was killed by someone robbing the apartment.”

“A robbery?”

“He took some jewelry and five thousand in cash. But why would he have to shoot her? Yvette wouldn’t have tried to stop him.”

“Maybe she could identify him.”

“The doorman identified him. He walked right in. Didn’t try to hide.” Herbie heaved a sigh. “Anyway, if you’re worried about your brother, I’ll be back in court.”

“I’m not worried about my brother. I mean, I am worried about my brother, but that’s not why I’m here. Surely you know that.”

“Well, he’s still your brother. Don’t worry, I will be in court tomorrow. And not just because of the bench warrant. I’ll be in court because that’s what lawyers do.”

Melanie smiled and nodded, but she was hesitant.

Herbie picked up on it. “You think I’ll be distracted. You think I won’t be able to concentrate.”

“No, I—”

Herbie put up his hand. “You’re right. It’ll be hard. I’m going to take Stone Barrington with me as second chair. He’ll keep me focused.”

“He doesn’t know the case.”

“He sent for the transcript. Tomorrow he’ll know more about it than I do.”

“I’m not worried about the case. I’m worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine,” Herbie said.

But he didn’t mean it.

Melanie came downstairs from Herbie’s room.

“How’s he doing?” Stone asked.

“Better. I’m going to go.”

“Do you want a ride home?”

“Is that necessary?”

“No, I’m just offering.”

“Why did you have me picked up at the hospital?”

Stone started to give her a vague answer, but changed his mind. This wasn’t the type of girl to bullshit. “To keep you safe.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. “Now that I’ve seen Herbie, you don’t care?”

“No, I don’t think we need to anymore. When I sent the car, I thought this had to do with your brother’s case. Apparently I was wrong. It now appears Yvette was killed during a robbery. There’s a new suspect. I’m perfectly happy to offer you a ride, but if you want to get home on your own power, I won’t stop you.”

“Thanks. I’d like to walk.”

“Of course. Does he need anything?”

“I don’t think so. Under the circumstances, he’s doing well. Will he be here tomorrow?”

“He’ll be in court tomorrow. After that, I imagine he’ll be going home.”

“Herb says you’ll be in court, too.”

“That’s right. I’m already attorney of record. I was there this afternoon.”

“Did you send for the transcripts?”

“How did you know?”

“He said you did.”

“Herbie knows me well.”

“Herbie?”

“That’s what we used to call him. Before he got serious.”

“Did you read the transcript?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“He made his point. The evidence indicates a police frame-up.”

“Will the jury believe that?”

Stone shrugged. “That’s another matter. Don’t worry. We won’t let you down.”

Melanie nodded. “Okay. Thanks again.”

Chico and Gus were succumbing to boredom outside Stone Barrington’s town house. Neither was used to stakeouts, and they lacked the patience required. Gus was nearly asleep, while Chico fidgeted in his seat. When the front door finally opened and Melanie emerged, Chico jabbed Gus sharply in the ribs. “There she is.”

Gus bolted upright “Alone?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Let’s get her.”

“Hang on. Don’t start the engine, don’t open the door. Let her walk away from the house. The place is a fucking fortress. We can’t give her the chance to run back in.”

Melanie walked down the street.

“Now?” Gus said.

“Hang on. See if anyone else comes out of the house.”

No one did.

“All right, start it up. Follow me slowly.”

Chico got out of the car and tailed Melanie down the street. He tried to catch up, but she was walking briskly and he didn’t want to attract attention. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Gus pushing ahead of him in the car. That was all he needed, for the guy to spook her. He picked up the pace.